29 October 2026: Highland Council

A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday 29 October 2026 at 9.35am.

Webcast Notice: This meeting will be filmed and broadcast over the Internet on the Highland Council website and will be archived and available for viewing for 12 months thereafter.

Yours faithfully

Stewart Fraser 
Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance

Business

1. Calling of the Roll and Apologies for Absence
Gairm a’ Chlàir agus Leisgeulan

2. Declarations of Interest/Transparency Statement
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt/Aithris Fhollaiseachd

Members are asked to consider whether they have an interest to declare in relation to any item on the agenda for this meeting.  Any Member making a declaration of interest should provide some information on the nature of the interest and leave the meeting at the appropriate time.  Advice may be sought from officers prior to the meeting taking place.

3. Notice of Motion: Removal from Office or Appointment to Committee or Outside Body

Following the vote of no confidence passed by the Council on 17 September 2026 in respect of Cllr Chris Birt, Cllr Duncan Macpherson, Cllr Ruraidh Stewart, Cllr John Grafton and Cllr Sean Kennedy, the Council agrees, in accordance with Standing Order 28.1 to remove those Members from all Committee and Outside Body appointments, with the exception of Area Committees and any committees where membership is required to be politically balanced by law or Council policy.

The Council further agrees that any vacancies arising from these removals shall be filled in accordance with the Council’s procedures for appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies.

Signed:    Mr I Brown    Mrs M Reid

The above Motion will not be debated.  In accordance with Standing Order 28.1, it will form the first item of substantive business at the next Full Council (10 December 2026).

4. Medium Term Financial Plan 2027/28 – 2029/30    
Cunntas às Ùr mun Phlana Ionmhais Meadhan-ùine 2027/28 – 2029/30

There is circulated Report No. HC/31/26 by the Chief Officer – Corporate Finance (Section 95 Officer). 

The Council is asked to:-

i.    note and agree to endorse the updated Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) forecasts and assumptions as set out within the report;
ii.   note the risks, implications and uncertainties arising from wider economic events, and the impact on the Council’s financial planning; 
iii.  note and agree to endorse the continuation of the current ‘3 pillar’ approach to addressing the budget gap and use of ‘financial flexibilities’, ‘strategic savings’ and ‘service/cluster savings’ as part of the strategy;
iv.   note the key dates and timelines, and next steps in relation to the MTFP; and
v.    agree that in relation to budget consultation and engagement, the Council adopts the blended approach as set out in the report.

5. Highland Community Planning Partnership 2025/2026 Annual Report 
Aithisg Bhliadhnail Com-pàirteachas Dealbhachadh Coimhearsnachd na Gàidhealtachd 2025/2026

There is circulated Report No. HC/32/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to note the 2025-2026 Annual Report of the 2024-2027 HOIP which can be found at Appendix 1 to the report.

6. Promoting and Realising Children’s Rights – Highland Council’s Children’s Rights Report 2024-26
Cunnradh nan Dùthchannan Aonaichte air Còraichean Chloinne: Obair air Còraichean Chloinne

There is circulated Report No. HC/33/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – People.

The Council is asked to:-

i.   note the work undertaken to date as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (Scotland) Act 2024 is implemented within Highland Council;
ii.  agree to support the plan for the next three years to further advance children’s rights in Highland; and
iii. consider where, within their own case work and decision making, Elected Members can support the articles of the UNCRC.

7. Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2025/26
Aithisg Àrd-Oifigear Obrach Sòisealta 2025/26

There is circulated Report No. HC/34/26 by the Chief Social Work Officer.

The Council is asked to note and comment on the issues raised in the annual report and the implications for Social Work and Social Care Services within Highland Council and NHS Highland.

8. Towards a New Highland Growth Deal
Prògram Fàis na Gàidhealtachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/35/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to:-

i.   note the significant economic opportunities emerging across Highland and the strategic work undertaken by the Council and its partners to maximise their long-term benefit;
ii.  note the progress made through Invest Highland, the Highland Investment Programme, the Highland Wealth Fund, the Highland Social Value Charter and related programmes;
iii. note that this work may have a link to ongoing discussion in Scotland and UK wide on Public Service Reform;
iv.  agree that there is a strong strategic case for developing a future Growth Deal proposition for Highland;
v.   agree that the Council should engage formally with the Scottish Government and UK Government to shape a future Growth Deal for the region;
vi.  agree that officers develop an initial strategic proposition, investment framework and programme of priority interventions for further consideration by Members; and
vii. agree that a further report will be presented to Council updating on outcomes of that engagement setting out a draft investment framework and growth deal programme for Highland.

9. Exclusion of the Public
Às-dùnadh a’ Phobaill

The Council is asked to resolve that, under Section 50A(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the public should be excluded from the meeting for Item 10 only on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 6 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

10. Unlocking Opportunities for Investment in Inverness    
A’ Fuasgladh Chothroman airson Tasgadh ann an Inbhir Nis

There is circulated to Members only Confidential Report No. HC/36/26 by the Assistant Chief Executive – Place.

The Council is asked to agree the recommendations as set out in the report.

The Council will return to public proceedings for the following items.

11. Independent Review of Public Safety, Licensing Decision Making and Governance
Ath-sgrùdadh Neo-eisimeileach air Sàbhailteachd Phoblach, Dèanamh Cho-dhùnaidhean is Riaghlachas a Thaobh Ceadachd

There is circulated Report No. HC/37/26 by the Chief Executive.

The Council is asked to:-

i.    approve the commissioning of an independent external review of The Highland Council's licensing arrangements in accordance with the Council motion approved on 17 September 2026, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; 
ii.   note the current procedures in place for licensing, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report; 
iii.  approve the proposed scope for the review, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report; 
iv.   approve the proposed governance arrangements for the review, including the appointment of the external reviewer, oversight and reporting arrangements, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report; 
v.    approve the proposed timetable set out in Appendix 5 of the report;
vi.   agree that any interim report will be presented to The Highland Council for review;
vii.  agree that the final report and recommendations will be presented to The Highland Council for consideration, determination and agreement of any implementation actions; 
viii. note the interim arrangements set out at 11.1 of the report; and
ix.   note that that the approval of the review does not prevent the Council from further implementing interim improvements to licensing governance, Member support, training or procedures prior to receipt of the final report, where deemed appropriate.

12. Amendment to Standing Orders Relating to the Conduct of Meetings
Atharrachadh air Ghnàth-riaghailtean a’ Buntainn ri Stiùireadh Choinneamhan

The Council is asked to agree that the words “and submit” be deleted from the second last paragraph of Standing Order 12.1.

13. Membership of the Council 
Ballrachd na Comhairle

The Council is asked to note that, following the By-Election for Ward 3 (Wick and East Caithness) held on 1 October 2026, Ms Julie Calder was elected as a Member of the Council.  In addition, Mr Andrew Jarvie has left the Highland Alliance Group and is now a member of ReformUK Scotland.

The political make-up of the Council is now as follows:-

SNP – 18 / Highland Independent – 18 / Scottish Liberal Democrats – 16 / Highland Alliance – 7 / Scottish Conservative and Unionist – 6 / Scottish Green Party – 3 / Labour – 2 / ReformUK Scotland – 1 / Non-Aligned – 3.

The formula in respect of the number of places on Strategic Committees remains unchanged - 5/5/4/2/2.

14. Membership of Committees, etc    
Ballrachd air Comataidhean, msaa  

The Council is asked to agree to appoint two Members from Wards 12-21 to the Highland Licensing Committee.

15. Deeds Executed
Sgrìobhainnean Lagha a Bhuilicheadh

There is circulated for noting a list of deeds and other documents executed on behalf of the Council since the meeting held on 17 September 2026.

16. Confirmation of Minutes 
Daingneachadh a’ Gheàrr-chunntais

There are submitted for confirmation as a correct record the Minutes of Meeting of the Council held 17 September 2026. as contained in the Volume which has been circulated separately.

17. Minutes of Meetings of Committees
Geàrr-chunntasan Choinneamhan Chomataidhean

There are submitted for confirmation as correct records, for information as regards delegated business and for approval as appropriate, the Minutes of Meetings of Committees contained in Volume circulated separately as undernoted:-

Economy and Infrastructure Committee (Special) - 28 September 2026
Pensions Committee - 1 October 2026

Minutes of Meetings not included in the Volume are as follows:-    

i. Recruitment Panel: Chief Officer – for approval – held on 23 September 2026.

18. Question Time Booklet A
Àm Ceiste     

There is circulated separately in Booklet A Member Questions received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.  

For Member Questions, one supplementary question will be allowed in each case which will be answered by the recipient of the original question.

19. Notices of Motion Booklet A
Brathan Gluasaid

There is circulated separately in Booklet A Notices of Motion received by the Chief Officer - Legal and Corporate Governance.